Rid yourself of media toxins

DECLARE YOURSELF A DECOLONIZED ZONE

The Viewers Declaration of Independence ‘We declare our independence from a system that has drifted out of democratic reach. Our cultural environment movement offers the liberating alternative: an independent citizen voice in cultural policy-making, working for the creation of a free, fair, diverse and responsible cultural environment for us and our children.’ Cultural Environment Movement, P.O. Box 31847, PA 19104, US http://www.cemnet.org

Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights ‘Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.’ Find the People’s Communication Charter, and other manifestos for resistance online at http://www.mediachannel.org/manifesto

Social Alternatives An independent, quarterly refereed journal. It is committed to the principles of social justice, commenting on important social issues of current concern or public debate. This has included articles on peace and conflict, racism, Indigenous rights, social justice, human rights, inequality and the environment. barbara@socialalternatives.comhttp://www.socialalternatives.com

World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters ‘Community radio is not about doing something for the community but about the community doing something for itself’. http://www.amarc.org

Next 5 Minutes A forum for alternative and tactical media from around the world. http://www.n5m.org

BEAT IRRITABLE BRAIN SYNDROME

Suffering from irritable brain syndrome? Critical Art Ensemble is concerned! ‘Patient complains of 30-year history of alienation, depression, and isolation.’ ( http://www.critical-art.net ) So is White Dot! They’ve found a remedy: ‘an amazing machine that will make you happy, excited and energetic, just by flicking a switch. It’s called television – and all you have to do is turn it off.’ TV Turnoff Week 22-28 April 2001

Financial Crimes This familiar yet strangely off-message newspaper was handed out to surprised commuters across London last September. Get hold of a copy by writing to: Financial Crimes, PO Box 9656, London N4 4JY, Britain tellme@financialcrimes.com

TONE YOUR MENTAL MUSCLE

Let’s Get Critical: A Media Literacy Toolkit For Parents, Kids And Teachers A comprehensive toolkit for media self-defence for kids. Media literacy trains kids to read media messages, particularly commercial ones, with a critical eye. Includes a fantastic lesson bank for teachers. http://www.mediachannel.org/getinvolved/teachkids.shtml

Books to read: Toxic Sludge Is Good for You:Lies, Damn Lies and the Public Relations Industry by John Stauber and Sheldon Rampton (Common Courage, 1995). Basic reading for those who want to understand corporate spin. And funny.

Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media by Edward S Herman and Noam Chomsky (Pantheon, 1988). Exposé of the propaganda role of the mass media. Not funny at all. Or see the video by Peter Wintonick and Mark Achbar.

The Global Media: The New Missionaries of Corporate Capitalism by Edward S Herman and Robert W McChesney (Cassell, 1997). Comprehensive profile of the global media.

New Internationalist reports on issues of world poverty and inequality. We focus attention on the unjust relationship between the powerful and the powerless worldwide in the fight for global justice. More about our work